“Don’t you have a job? A hobby? A body to hide beneath your floorboards?”
“You’d think so, right? Alas, I’m on team good guy. I help the cops take down assholes who hurt women. Which is, not coincidentally, why I’m here.” She folds her hands in her lap and grins, interview style. “So tell me, Devlin Pierce. How do you feel about keeping your cock attached to your body?”
“I’m very much attached to the attachment.” I sip the tea—perfection, as always, almost enough to dim the threats. “How can I help you, Olivy?”
“We need to have a chat about this whole ‘unlocking the heart’s desire’ business. Lay some ground rules.”
I don’t bother hiding my derisive snort. “The only rules I’m beholden to,witch, are those set forth by the laws of magic. I’ve also agreed to honor your sister’s wishes as a courtesy I rarely offer. Beyond that—”
“Beyondthat, if you value yourattachments, you’ll hear me out.”
“Oh, for fuck’s…” I place the folded newspaper in my lap and give the vile witch my full intention. “Carry on.”
“I don’t know how much Violet told you about our family, but we’re a tight bunch. Five of us girls—sisters by choice. And the Aunts.”
“The Aunts?”
“Joslyn, Althea, and Lorelei. They run Three Sisters B&B up on Raven Hill.”
“Sisters by choice as well?”
“They’re our aunts by choice, but the three of them are blood-related. Waywards, actually, descended from the town founder, Agatha Wayward. And like I said, we’re close. Closer than blood.”
“Which explains why you’re threatening to chop off my favorite appendage to use in your dark workings.”
“Dark workings?” A lopsided grin twists her black-painted lips. “Do you have any idea how much I could get for the Devil'sactualdick on the dark web?”
“No, and I don’t want to know. Merciful Hell, why are you so vicious? Your sister makes a calming tea. Perhaps you should indulge in a cup. Or eight.”
“And dull the edges of my sharp and scintillating personality?” Olivy laughs, but it fades quickly. When she speaks again, her voice is soft, laced with a tender affection I didn’t even know she was capable of. “Violet… She’s the best of us. Biggest heart, biggest dreams, first in line to help an old lady across the street, first to fall in love, first to get crushed when life drops a bomb on her head. Itkillsme that she’s in this predicament with the café, but you heard what she said—I’m bound to secrecy. She won’t let her family help her. Which means it all comes down to you.”
“Your point being?”
“No offense, but I don’t trustanyoneoutside the inner circle.”
“As well you shouldn’t.”
“I don’t want her to get hurt. Period.”
“You’ve got nothing to worry about there. The spell prevents me from harming so much as a hair on her head, lest the magic think I’m trying to cheat my way out of our deal.”
Her eyes blaze—an even more terrifying sight than her black lipstick. “That’s not the kind of hurt I’m talking about.”
It’s admirable, the way she looks out for her sister. Which is the only reason I’m even entertaining this conversation instead of roasting her alive. Loyalty goes a long way with me.
“I’ll say this, Olivy, but only once. You have no reason to trust me, but despite the circumstances of our meeting, I harbor no ill will toward Violet. I’m not sure whether the Devil's word is worth as much as his severed cock on the internet, but I’ll give it to you anyway. I promise I’ll take care of her and do everything in my power to help unlock her heart’s desire, whatever that entails.”
“Fair enough.”
“But you need to do something for me in return.”
“A Devil's bargain?” She laughs. “I don’t think so.”
“No. A sisters’ bargain.” I extend my hand. “Don’t count Violet down and out just yet. Yes, she’s in a bind, and yes, I’m going to do everything in my power within the confines of the spell to help her. But she’s a strong woman in her own right. She’s already brainstorming new ideas, coming up with new brews, making an effort to analyze her competition. So no, saving the shop doesnotcome down to me. She’s a fighter, and she’s bloody wellgotthis. Understand?”
Her eyes widen, then drop to my hand. She stares at it a few beats, brow furrowed as if she’s having some raging internal argument with herself. Then, finally, she shakes.
“No mission creep,” she adds. “Like you said, you’ll operate within the confines of the spell to help her unlock her desire and save the shop, but that’sit. No other… entanglements.”
